St. George's Church abt 1732

St. George's Church as it stands today

     Saint George's Church, at 319 Front Street in Hempstead Village is among Long Island's earliest Episcopal ( originally Anglican) congregations.  Founded in 1702 it received a charter from King George II in 1735.  The current church is the second edifice on the site, having been constructed in 1822.  The original church was destroyed.  The current building contains oak interior columns that were dragged across the Hempstead Plains by horse, then hewn and installed in the sanctuary.  They span from ground to roof and show little sign of their great age.  More than one of the beautiful stained glass windows was designed by Tiffany Studio's, and the padded pew boxes harken to days of old on Long Island when the well-to-do would arrive at church in park drag coaches to take their place in the front pew boxes.
     During the American Revolution, Hempstead was a hotbed of British sympathizers or Tories, as they were known.  The British attempted to occupy Hempstead after the Battle of Long Island and used St. George's as a headquarters as well as a place to worship.  Local folklore has it that the rooster weathervane atop the steeple has sixteen bullet marks placed there by Hessian mercenaries who used it for target practice.
     The year 2002 marks the 300th anniversary of the church's founding and a series of events have been established to celebrate.  The church has a non-sectarian support group, The Friends of Historic St. George's Church, who's mission is to preserve the church buildings including the 1793 rectory.  Both the church and the rectory are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.